Author's Note: Hey everyone! A few things about myself and the story before it starts: 1. This is the first time I've tried to write a fanfiction. It's gonna be far from perfect and the first few chapters might be a tad subpar but please understand. 2. I'm planning on skipping out on a few episodes/combining 2 or more together, as either I believe that the episode won't serve any actual relevance to the story or it was too short to take up one paragraph. 3. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! 4. I'm going to be focusing on Aang's and the siblings' (Katara + Sokka) stories primarily at first and I won't really be going into great detail about Zuko's journey at least for the end of Book 1 as it stays pretty much identical to the plot of the series and his story should be common knowledge. 5. Shipping isn't a major thing to me but for the sake of those that are interested, I'm sticking to canon pairings. 6. I don't know how frequently I'll be able to write but I'll do everything I can to finish the story in between study. And with that, I hope you enjoy! DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar
Chapter 1: Bato of the Water Tribe
"Sorry kids, but we really should get moving."
Bato's concerned statement was met with startled responses from the two Water Tribe children, whose minds had been preoccupied with the sight of a young airbender and his sky bison disappearing into the afternoon skies. Soon, they would cross a great mountain range and no longer would Appa's silhouette be visible amongst the gathering storm clouds. But as much as Katara and Sokka wanted to stay and make sure Aang would be safe on his journey to the North Pole, they recognised that the growing tempest would not wait for them to see off their friend. With a final glance to the sky, then to the ruined abbey, then to each other, they began their hike with Bato into the Earth Kingdom to regroup with Hakoda's forces and play their role in ending the war.
Sokka sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right. We should get moving before this storm hits us."
At the mention of the storm however, Katara flinched. She recalled Aang's heartbreaking monologue about his leaving the Southern Air Temple alone with Appa, and their unfortunate imprisonment within the iceberg during the raging storm. A seed of worry implanted itself inside her subconscious and as the group reached the entrance of a large woodland forest, her thoughts reached out to Aang, begging him to stay safe, and praying that she wouldn't have to dig him out of an iceberg for a second time.
Just as Katara and Sokka took their time gazing at Appa riding off into the horizon, Aang couldn't help but look back at the abbey as they flew over the mountain range. He was sad; happy, because he knew Katara and Sokka were going to see their dad, but still sad. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was leaving his family again, for what felt like the second time in less than a year, and couldn't help but fear for their safety. Of course, this was nothing like Aang's abandonment of the Air Nomads; Katara and Sokka weren't about to be wiped off the face of the planet by firebenders.
"Or at least I hope not," he sighed to Momo. The lemur, who had been incessantly gobbling on a large exotic fruit, looked up at him with inquiring, beady eyes before returning to gnawing at his dinner.
After what felt like a small eternity the abbey was obscured from his view by a large mountain and Aang sank back into Appa's saddle, determined to chase off this storm just a little longer until they could find a safe place to make camp. Aang lay face-up on the saddle and vacantly looked at the overcast sky. Already, after only a few hours of being apart, Aang terribly missed his Water Tribe friends. He had forgotten how different it was to fly alone without Sokka's stupidly hilarious antics or Katara's angelical presence and wished that they had abandoned their silly quest to see their father and had travelled with him.
Aang slapped his forehead arrow with his palm. "I'm an idiot, Momo." Once again, the ogling stare of the flying lemur turned over to Aang. "I need to let Katara and Sokka see their dad. Why am I acting so selfish?" he groaned, turning his head to look at Momo whose fur had turned a vibrant yellow colour from the juices of his fruit. Aang laughed, but a pang of sadness hit him as no one else laughed with him. Almost instinctively, his hand flew down to his pocket where he held Katara's necklace, a small gift from her to him. He closed his eyes and began to recall the bittersweet events of the day.
Zuko, Iroh and June had been tied up near one of the far walls of the abbey after yet another failed attempt at catching Aang. Although Zuko and June seemed visibly frustrated at the unresponsiveness of their bodies and the rope forcing all 3 to sit right next to each other, Iroh couldn't hide his delight at being so close to June, a sentiment that was not shared by her. All they could do was watch on as 'Team Avatar' decided to go their separate ways, exchanging heartfelt goodbyes and hugs. Keep it to yourselves, Zuko seethed to himself as he slowly tried to ease himself and the others free with his one paralysis free hand.
Bato stood back, watching the heartfelt goodbyes and acknowledging the sincere emotional bonds the children of Hakoda shared with the Avatar. He and Hakoda shared a friendship much like this where they felt bonded like a family, and remembered the similar goodbye he shared with Hakoda upon his arrival at the abbey to recuperate from his wounds. Yet, he knew time was not their ally and although these kids might not want to leave one another's company any time soon, they would have to in order to see out the oncoming storm. He decided to cough ever so slightly which seemed to snap the trio out of their haze and back to the present, which Sokka recognised as a cue to wrap it up.
Sokka turned back to the young airbender and sighed. "We're really gonna miss you buddy." His eyes began to water. "Oh come on Aang, now you've made me cry! You've turned me into a little baby!"
Aang laughed, but was unable to keep the tears from his own eyes. "It's okay to cry, Sokka. I promise I won't tell anyone." Sokka grinned and pulled Aang into a big bear hug and began to rub his knuckles across Aang's scalp in a brotherly noogie. When he put Aang back down after a few moments his voice turned from a choked, upset tone to one that was unusually sincere and protective for him.
"I promise you that you'll see me again. Both of us," indicating towards his little sister. "I'm sorry that we can't follow you to the North Pole but we just can't pass up this opportunity to see Dad again. This war has already taken one of our parents and if we can help it, we'll make sure it doesn't take the other." Aang's downcast expression at hearing that hurt Sokka a bit inside so he continued, trying to alleviate some of Aang's concerns. "Don't blame yourself, Aang. Travelling with you has been the greatest experience of my life so far and don't worry. Hey, if anything, you hiding that scroll from us that said where our dad was was actually a good thing in the end because – " He never got to finish his sentence after a sniff from Aang and a hard slap to the cheek from Katara. "Right right, point taken. Look, the point is Aang, you're our family too. You're like the little brother I never knew I wanted, or needed. We're not gonna be apart for too long, trust me, and we're gonna end this stupid war together. I promise." Sokka confirmed, placing his hands proudly on Aang's shoulders and being him in once more for a more loving and gentle embrace.
Sokka brought his arms from around Aang to his sides and noticed Katara asking with her eyes that she wanted to talk to Aang as well, alone. He swept his arms towards Aang and wistfully joked, "The floor is yours," before walking backwards towards Bato. Katara turned her head from her brother to Aang, as her expression changed from one of delight to deep concern. She gripped his arm and pulled him towards Appa before turning him around so that he was facing her. She tried to tell Aang how worried she was for him and how much she would miss him, but what came out of her mouth instead was a complete mess.
"Aang, are you sure? I mean, I want to see my father too and all but, but, … what about my waterbending?" she desperately asked Aang while still clinging to his arm. "I don't know if I'll be able to find a master in the Earth Kingdom, after all, it is the Earth Kingdom and they mainly have earthbenders and not really any waterbenders and we won't be able to travel on Appa which is really going to hurt our legs and – "
Her nervous rant was cut short by a small chuckle from Aang. Throughout her tongue twisting monologue she hadn't noticed Aang's gaze turn to the ground and she certainly hadn't noticed the tears on his cheeks as they raced down his skin and dropped to the ground. His eyes turned up to meet hers and instantly she was lost. How could it, that the innocent, grey eyes of a young boy were able to see through her thoughts so powerlessly? Why was it now suddenly so easy for her thoughts to tangle themselves up when within the entrancing gaze of the airbender?
"Katara, relax, I'm going to be fine." He replied with a small smile. Adding onto this, he reiterated, " I don't want to go back to being alone again but it's important that you see your dad again."
"But…" he paused, gulping as he did so, "…I'm gonna miss you anyway," he added with a blush. Katara, emotional as ever, was on the verge of losing herself before Aang's face practically illuminated. He reached into his pocket and he pulled out Kya's necklace. Katara gasped and instinctively brought her hand to her neck where she remembered it had been missing. How could she forget?
"I snagged this from Zuko in the middle of our fight," he said with a broad grin on his face. "I figure I better give it to you now before I forget and accidentally lose it somewhere in the Earth Kingdom."
Katara looked at the necklace, then back at Aang's beaming expression. She honestly could not understand how so much joy, positivity and thoughtfulness managed to fit inside a small boy, but his grin was infectious and she couldn't help but smile through her tears.
"Keep it."
Aang's eyes lit up in a confused manner and was about to protest before Katara put her finger up to his lips, continuing: "That necklace reminds me of my mum. It's one of the last things I have to remember her by, but having it always brought me a sense of home and reminded me of my happy memories with her. Giving it to you, well, I hope it can remind you of Sokka and I while we're apart."Katara choked on a sob near the end of her sentence and Aang instinctively pulled her in for a hug. She reciprocated, wrapping her arms around Aang's shoulders and resting her head on Aang's crown as his head nestled into the crook of her neck. Together they remained, each soaking up the others presence until Katara decided it was time to disengage, but not before leaving a soft kiss on Aang's cheek. She backed away towards Sokka and leant into his figure, as her brother put his arm around her shoulders protectively.
Bato then chose to approach Aang, still slightly upset from the goodbyes and with Katara's necklace hanging loosely from his hand. He extended a right hand towards the Avatar, who awoke from his stupor and shook it confidently.
"It's been an honour to meet you, Avatar Aang," he began. "Before we depart, I wanted to give you another leaving gift" he joked, as he handed Aang his map with the location of the Southern Water Tribes forces.
"Don't you need this to get there?" he asked.
"No, not at all. I've got it memorised and I can buy another map and circle the location for myself if needed. Now, I want you to meet us all there. When we arrive at the camp, I'm going to tell Chief Hakoda of our plan to reunite with you. Our plan is to plan a small invasion of the Fire Nation and with your help, it might just be possible.
"The men have been waiting for a beacon of hope to win the war, and you might just be it. They'll wait 'til the end of time to fight by your side but more importantly, I think it best if you complete your training as the Avatar before coming. Master the elements, then come find us." Bato smiled, placing his hands on Aang's shoulders. Admirable, he thought, how the fate of the world seemed to lie solely on this young boy's existence yet he acted as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Then again, he guessed, this was pretty ordinary for the Avatar. "Try not to take too long though," he said with a wink, "the sooner we end this war the better, I say!"
And with another firm handshake, Aang had gracefully jumped onto Appa's back, Momo coming to perch himself on the airbender's shoulder after saying his own goodbyes to the water tribespeople. Gazing down at his new family, Aang unwillingly whispered the magic words to Appa and in moments, were already high in the sky. He cast his eyes back and caught Katara's gaze; acknowledging it with a large blush and an even larger wave goodbye.
Aang sighed, and trudged back to Appa's reigns. Amidst his daydreaming, Appa had been gliding over the top of more mountains and as Aang poked his head around Appa's neck, he spotted a slap jutting out over a ledge that looked the perfect size for himself and Appa. He guided the bison down and within moments, the large sky bison had drifted off to slumber. Aang was not so lucky. His thoughts were muddled and his mind was crowded with thoughts, things he might've forgotten to say, any miniscule worry he might've had about Katara and Sokka. These nuances were put to rest, however, when Aang clutched onto Katara's necklace, instantly freeing him of most of his worries.
And as he finally drifted off to a much-earned, peaceful sleep, he unconsciously rambled, "Night, Katara. Night, Sokka."